STATE OFFICER CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACKET 2014 2015
Thinking of becoming a California State Officer? As with any organization, much of our strength lies within its leadership. Leadership potential is what we are looking for in California State Officer Candidates. If you are a member of SkillsUSA at the Secondary or College/Post-Secondary Level who can answer YES to the following questions, you should consider applying to become a SkillsUSA California State Officer: Ø Can explain, to a complete stranger (in professional dialogue), the purpose of SkillsUSA? Ø Can convey to others the way your program benefits our society? Ø Will SkillsUSA be your top priority in your school/college and around the state? Ø Will you be able to miss 10 (approx.) class days during the school year for SkillsUSA business and still maintain your grade point average? Ø Are you willing to travel across the state for leadership training and to promote SkillsUSA California? Ø Will you be able to attend the SkillsUSA events for California on the dates indicated on the attached tentative agenda? Ø Want to develop strong skills in communication, time management, teamwork, and problem solving? Ø Want to strengthen and practice these skills through applications in real activities which will help others? Ø Not afraid of hard work and accepting responsibility? If you feel you meet this description of a SkillsUSA California State Officer, then please complete the entire state officer candidate packet, sign, date and submit to the state director s office NO LATER THAN April 4, 2014 (Meeting this deadline with complete forms will be the first step of the interview process.) Mr. Clay Mitchell California SkillsUSA State Director email: cmitchel@cde.ca.gov 1809 S Street, Suite 101-274 Office: 916.445.5568 Sacramento, CA 95814 2
Officer Candidate Information Packet This packet contains all the information and forms you will need in order to apply to be a SkillsUSA California State Officer Candidate. Read through all the materials carefully, and completely, to help you understand the process, everything you will need to do, and what is expected of you as a State Officer for SkillsUSA California. If at any time you have any questions or need assistance, you can ask your local SkillsUSA advisor, Regional Coordinator, State Officer Trainers, or call the state SkillsUSA office. In this information packet, you will find all of the required information, potential interview questions, and deadline dates for completing the application packet which must be completed and submitted to the State Director, Mr. Clay Mitchell NO LATER than April 4, 2014. Ø State Officer Candidate Agenda/Event Dates for 2013-2014 Ø State Officer Election Process Ø State Officer Campaign Regulations Ø Officer Candidate Screening Topics/Questions Other supporting documents that must be completed and sent in with your State Officer Candidate Application Packet: Ø Personal Resume Ø 2x2 inch photo of the State Officer Candidate in Official Dress Ø Unofficial school / college transcript showing a minimum 2.0 Overall GPA and 3.0 GPA in Career Tech classes Ø Letter of endorsement from local chapter Ø Letter of recommendation from a school administrator Ø 2 Letters of recommendation from non-family members (i.e., advisors, faculty members, employers, etc.) Ø All forms must be typed, dated, and signed to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered for State Officer Candidacy at the upcoming State SkillsUSA Conference April 24 27, 2013. 3
State Officer Agenda / Event Dates: 1. Newly Elected State Officer Meeting - (Required) Sunday, April 27, 2013 immediately following the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and Skills Conference Awards Ceremony. Look for room location in the announcements. 2. State Officer Leadership Training Dates (7 Mandatory training/meeting dates and 3 Recommended or Optional attendance dates throughout 2013-2014): Note: All dates and locations are tentative; after newly elected officers are chosen then a confirmation of dates and locations for training and other conferences, workshops, or meetings to attend will be emailed to officers, advisors, regional coordinators, state officer trainers, and state director. a. NLSC Leadership Training: June 21-23, 2014- Kansas City, MO. b. Fall Leadership Training: August 8-10, 2014- Sacramento c. Winter Leadership Training: January 9-11, 2015, San Diego d. Spring Leadership (Prior to State Conference): April 6-9, 2015- San Diego e. State Leadership and Skills Conference 2013: April 9-12, 2015- San Diego 3. Attending various professional, educator, and administrator conferences, workshops, meetings, or summits to speak to the attendees about SkillsUSA; work vendor/exhibit table within your region; and other events that state officer trainers, state director, or regional coordinators ask of you (Strongly Recommended) 4. National SkillsUSA Championships (Voluntary) June 23 27, 2014 Kansas City, MO. 5. Fall Regional SkillsUSA Leadership Conference/Competitions September/October 2014 (Mandatory for your region) 6. Spring Regional SkillsUSA Skills Competitions January-February 2015 (Mandatory for your region) 7. Attain Statesman Award by April 27, 2014 4
State Officer Election Procedures and Process: 1. All State Officer Application materials must be properly completed, dated and signed, and must be received by the State Director on or before April 4, 2014. 2. Candidates must score 75% or better on a written exam 3. Candidates must pass an oral interview with State Officer Trainers, the State Director, the President of each house, and any other invited by the Election Committee 4. Current State Officer Observations of Candidates during the State Conference will also be used to determine candidacy 5. There will be an official ballot provided to the House of Delegates that includes the names of all approved State Officer Candidates 6. If there is a tie in the percentage base of scoring by the state leadership team, then the candidate that received the majority of the votes from the House of Delegates will determine the winning candidate 7. Candidates running unopposed must score a majority vote to be elected into office 8. If a candidate is nominated from the floor, as specified in the SkillsUSA California Constitution, they will also be required to turn in all forms, signatures, and other documentation No Later than May 7, 2014 to remain a state officer for 2014-2015. 9. State Officer Candidates will make a 2-3 minute introductory speech to the House of Delegates and Candidates will also make two (1-2 minute) extemporaneous speech before the House of Delegates. 10. State Officer Candidates need to check the Program for date, time and location of room being used at the State Conference, to be at the conference on time and ready to go for the written exam and oral interviews. 11. If elected a State Officer, the candidate will not be able to compete in any contest at the upcoming state conference. 5
SkillsUSA California State Officer Campaign Regulations: If you will be using Campaign Material, you must have the SkillsUSA California Officer Election committee approve your material during your state officer interview. Candidate may spend up to $100.00 for campaign materials. You must submit all receipts at the time of your candidate interview. Campaign Materials that are not allowed are: Ø Gum Ø Cookies Ø Bubbles Ø Blow pops Candy and all campaign material must be cleaned up at the end of each delegate session. Candidates are allowed to use a table that will be set up in a designated area to put up a bulletin board (no larger than 25 x35 ) with fliers and other campaign materials. Campaign materials and campaigning may begin at the first delegate session at SkillsUSA Annual State Conference. Any campaigning done before candidate testing and interviewing may result in the candidate being disqualified. The Friday night campaign speech will be a two to three minute speech covering the following information: Ø Introductory information about you Ø Number of Years in SkillsUSA California Ø School you attend Ø Extra-curricular activities Ø Goals as a state officer Ø What benefits you will bring to the State Officer Team and Organization Saturday afternoon campaign speech is an extemporaneous, one to two minute speech Ø Problematic or Scenario type questions 6
State Officer Candidate Screening Topics/Questions: The following are questions and topics that MAY be used during your interview; Other questions and topics may also be used. Ø What is Career and Technical Education? And what is its primary purpose? Ø In which Career and Technical Education program are you currently enrolled? Ø In which program do you plan to be enrolled for the coming school year? Ø What qualities and abilities do you believe are most sought after in new employees being hired by business and industry today? Ø What qualities are developed by youth who participate in SkillsUSA? How do you develop these qualities? Ø Describe the SkillsUSA Program of Work. Ø Describe your activities related to leadership development. Ø Since the SkillsUSA program is designed to prepare people for the business and industrial world, do you think it will help to reduce unemployment? How? Ø People are concerned about students dropping out of school. Do you think technology education can help reduce this problem? How? Ø Describe your beliefs about the importance of post-secondary training for graduates of high school technology education programs. Ø Should technology education programs encourage further education beyond high school? Ø Describe how SkillsUSA can help you in planning and preparing for your future? Ø Explain your personal background: o How and why are you qualified to run for SkillsUSA California state office? o What leadership qualities would you bring to SkillsUSA California? o Describe your previous leadership experiences. o What are your plans after graduation from high school? o Describe state and local SkillsUSA activities in which you have participated. o What are your personal strengths and weaknesses as a leader? 7
QUESTIONS? Contact the SkillsUSA California State Officer Trainers - David Tayco dtayco@stockton.k12.ca.us Veronica Chavez veronicam.chavez@gmail.com 8